Trackless train

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Parking lot tram at Disneyland, California.

This article is about trackless trains. For road trains that carry freight see road train, for other trains see train (disambiguation).

A trackless train, also known as a land train or road train, is a series of connected road vehicles, used for transporting groups of people short distances. Trackless trains are often, but not always, shaped like a railway train. They do not run on rails.

The term land train or road train is common in Europe, where such a vehicle may also be known as a Dotto train after the name of a leading manufacturer. In North America the term trackless train is more common, and the terms tram or parking lot tram may also be used.^[1]^[2]

A trackless train usually consists of a gasoline or electric engine-powered tractor unit pulling a number of small, articulated trailers or carriages in the manner of a railroad train. The carriages are usually open-sided, but doors add a safety restraint, and may be covered over with plastic in inclement weather. There are various sizes and designs available, and depending on the design, each trailer may seat between 6 and 20 persons.

1 Uses
2 Steering mechanism
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Uses

Trackless train Potnapekka in Oulu, Finland.

Trackless trains are often used for the transport of tourists instead of buses in beach resorts, at amusement parks and zoos, or for sight-seeing along scenic routes. The National Railway Museum runs a trackless train between its York museum and York Minster. In the Swiss town of Gruyères, a trackless train is the only vehicle allowed in the pedestrianised streets.^[3] In some places, hiring of trackless trains for special events is possible.

A particularly heavy user of trackless trains has been the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts where they are used to move guests between the outlying parking areas and the entrance plaza, hence the name parking lot tram. Disney and other movie studio themed parks also use trackless trains on their studio backlot tours.

[edit] Steering mechanism

Trackless train at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, England.

When the trackless train turns, the tractor pulls the first car's front wheels into the turn. Cross links from the car's front wheels steer the rear wheels in the opposite direction, so that they follow the arc of the turn. A tow bar from the rear of the first car pulls the front wheels of the second car into the turn in the same way. With all the wheels following the same arc, the train moves as if it were on rails. Airport baggage trains use the same mechanism. If the rear wheels didn't steer, they would track toward the inside of the turning circle. The train could still turn, but less smoothly, and with a much greater turning radius.

[edit] See also

Monorail
Road train, a train of a tractor and several trailers for road goods transport, not employing special steering mechanism described above.
Tourist trolley, tourist bus with a look of vintage streetcar (tram).